DETONATING SYSTEM. 77 



gun will rust fifty times worse than with common 

 powder. 



It should be observed, however, that when the oxygen 

 mixes with gunpowder, in its explosion, it becomes less 

 injurious to the iron ; consequently the cocks and breech- 

 ings receive even more damage from this composition 

 than do the insides of the barrels. 



Now for a little petty larceny; book-making 

 paper and paste-work ; an easy way of doing business : 



DIRECTIONS, 



That Lancaster has printed, proper to be observed by 

 gentlemen using detonating guns. 



1. Load with the cocks down, which prevents the powder from 

 being forced out of the pegs that receive the copper caps. 



2. Prime the last thing ; otherwise, in ramming down the wadding, 

 the powder will be driven into the caps, and become so firmly com- 

 pressed as to destroy their effect. 



3. Should the caps be put on by mistake, prior to loading, force 

 them off with the turnscrew, and replace them with new ones. 



4. Keep the caps dry. If exposed to the fire for a few minutes 

 when required for use, they will never fail. Take care that no oil 

 or grease gets to them. 



5. Always clean those parts of the barrels and locks^that the 

 detonating powder acts upon with a wet rag ; then rub them dry, 

 and leave them in oil, to prevent rust. The pegs should not be 

 taken out too often. 



6. Before you take out the barrels, bring the locks to half cock, 

 The locks do not require to be taken off every time the gun is 

 used : once a fortnight is quite sufficient. Put a little fine oil to 

 the parts where there is friction : but if the gun has been used on a 

 wet day, the locks should be taken off to be cleaned and oiled im- 

 mediately. 



N.B. Detonating locks should not be snapt either with or without 

 the copper caps, but in the act of shooting. When the gun is loaded, 

 the flash from the detonating powder never enters the inside of the 



